Business Builders

• From Redundancy to Europe-Wide E-Commerce: Daniel Plewman and The Happy Threads Story

  After losing his engineering job during the 2008 crash, Daniel Plewman found himself unemployed, on the dole, and unsure what came next. A chance moment — his wife struggling to source quality scrubs from the US — sparked the idea that would eventually become Happy Threads, an e-commerce scrubs and healthcare uniform business now operating across Ireland, the UK, France, Spain, Germany and beyond.In this episode, Danny shares how he built Happy Threads from a spare room in Stoneybatter, going door-to-door with samples, and why launching an e-commerce scrubs business long before it was obvious became his unfair advantage. He opens up about the early years of survival, cashflow tricks, moments of being “technically bankrupt,” and the burnout and hospitalisation that forced him to rethink how he worked and led.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:– Spotting overlooked opportunities and creating a new market– How e-commerce cashflow helped the business survive– Building a 25-person team across Europe– Burnout, lifestyle choices, and the high-dependency hospital wake-up call– Leadership, culture, and moving towards a business that can run without youIf you're interested in real founder stories — adversity, reinvention, hard lessons, and honest reflections — this one is for you.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube

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• Building the World's Largest Betting Company with Stewart Kenny, Co-Founder of Paddy Power

  Former Paddy Power co-founder Stewart Kenny shares a brutally honest account of how he built — and then left — the world’s biggest betting company.From his father’s influence and early fascination with risk to the creation of Paddy Power’s fearless marketing, Stewart speaks candidly about success, addiction, ethics, and why he ultimately left the industry he helped define.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:– How Paddy Power became a cultural phenomenon– The marketing mindset that reshaped betting in Ireland– What Stewart learned about leadership, ego, and risk– His reflections on ADHD and entrepreneurship– Why he left the gambling industry — and what he’d change todayWhether you’re a business builder or just fascinated by the psychology of success, this episode offers one of the most disarmingly honest conversations we’ve ever had.

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• An MBO, Scaling through Acquisition and Managing Risk with Niall Jones (AIR Group)

  Niall Jones, co-owner of Anglo Irish Refrigeration, joins host Conor Kearney to share his journey from redundancy to running a €30M+ business. In this episode, Niall gets candid about the personal risks of buying a company, the adrenaline of nonstop growth, and how culture—not spreadsheets—has become his most powerful business tool. If you’re interested in acquisitions, scaling SMEs, or what it really takes to grow a service-heavy business, this is an essential listen.

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• From Magician to CEO: How Ciaran McCormack Built a €300M Business (Select Tech Group & DID Electrical)

  What can a magician teach us about leadership, resilience, and growth?In this episode of Business Builders Podcast, Ciaran McCormack shares how his early lessons in crowd control and stage presence became the foundations for running one of Ireland and the UK’s most successful retail groups. From balloon animals to Apple, to steering a company through examinership and rebirth, this is a story about creativity, grit, and believing in possibility — even when everything’s on the line.🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn:– How a magician’s stagecraft became the foundation for leadership and communication– What Ciaran learned moving from film school to Apple to the boardroom– Why naivety can be a strength when stepping into your first CEO role– How he led a company through examinership and came out stronger– What it takes to scale from £17M to £210M without losing culture or driveWhether you’re building a business, leading a team, or redefining what success means, this episode is packed with grounded, human insight on confidence, growth, and resilience.🎙️ Host: Conor Kearney👇 Listen & SubscribeSpotify | Apple | Amazon | Google Podcasts

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• From Scientist To Building A Multimillion-Euro Enterprise. Sean Mac Fhearraigh (Assay Genie)

  Hire world-class accountants and in The Philippines. Visit Outsource Direct to scale your operations with higher flexibility, maximum efficiency and much lower costs.Subscribe to the Business Builders Newsletter for the very best ideas I've discovered on business and personal growth.In Series 10, Episode #94, I interview Sean Mac Fhearraigh, co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Assay Genie. Sean shares his journey from academic cancer researcher to successful entrepreneur. We delve into the challenges of transitioning from science to business, raising funds, and growing Assay Genie into a multimillion-euro enterprise. The conversation spans topics like the importance of credibility in the scientific market, the impact of AI on science, and personal sacrifices made along the way.CONNECT WITH CONOR:LinkedInCONNECT WITH SEAN:LinkedInAssay GenieDiscover EO Ireland—part of an international network designed specifically for entrepreneurs. EO Ireland connects business owners for networking, mentorship, and shared learning experiences. Take your business to the next level and join a community of like-minded leaders today at eoireland.org. Empower your entrepreneurial journey!Produced by Jetbooks, Chartered Accountants Ireland.

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